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(No Model.)

A. V. MANLEY.

TANNERS APRON SUPPORT.

No. 346,487. Patented Aug. 3, 1886.

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NITED STATES PATENT Fries.

TANNERS APRON-SUPPORT.

SPECEPICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 346,487, dated August3, 1886.

Application filed December 30, 1885. Serial No. 157,186. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANTHONY V. MANLEY, a citizen of the United States,residing at Norwich, in the county of Chenango and State of providemeans for supporting an apron in proper relation and juxtaposition tothe fleshing-beam of a tannery, so as to relieve the workman orattendant of the considerable weight and inconvenience of having anapron tied or otherwise secured around his body, while at the same timethe apron serves to protect the workman from becoming wetted.

A further object of my invention is to provide means which shall yieldand accommodate itself to the movements of the operator, to providemeans whereby the inclination of the apron'ean be varied and adjusted,to provide means for quickly and readily attaching the supporting-frameto the floor, and to con1- bine simplicity, strength, durability, andlightness of construction with thorough effectiveness of operation andcheap'ncss of manufacture.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view taken fromthe front of the device, showing the apron applied to and suspended fromthe supporting-frame. Fig. 2 is a perspective view taken from the rearside of the device,with the apron detached. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detailview of the adjusting devices for the upper cross bar or bow. Fig. 4 isa detail view of one of the brackets in which the main frame or thestandards thereof are pivoted.

Referring to the drawings, in which like letters of reference denotecorresponding parts in the several figures, A designates the mainsupporting-frame, which consists, essentially, of upright standards orside bars, B, and a vertically adjustable cross bar or bow, O, mountedon the upper ends of the upright standards, and adapted to be adjustedin an inclined position at an anglcthereto, to accommodate the apron Dto the requirements or wishes of the workman.

The uprights or standards 3 are curved in able fastening devices, tosecure the supports in proper relative position and juxtaposition to theilcshing-beam of a tannery.

The lugs 0 of the supports are perforated, and the openings in theenlarged heads I) of the arms 0 are adapted to coincide or registertherewith, thus permitting pivot pins or bolts 0 to connect the supportsand standards piv otally together.

If it is desired to vary the inclination or adjust the angle of thestandards B or the main frame A, a key or block, f, is fitted beneatheach of the arms I), to elevate the same and throw the frame and itsstandards for ward, the blocks being made wed e-shaped and adjustedbeneath the arms until thcproper inclination has been attained.

The upper ends of the standards B have brackets B, rigidly secu redthereto, and these brackets provide supports for thelower arms, 0, ofthe cross bar or bow C, said arms passing through the brackets andbearing against one of the faces of the uprights or standards B. Thearms 0 are slotted longitudinally, as at c, and through these slots passthe threaded shanks of adjusting and clamping set-screws G, the shanksof which enter threaded socketsin the upper ends of the uprightstandards B. A washer, g, is interposed between the head of set-screw Gand the slotted end of the bow O. The lower ends of the arms 0 haveadjusting thumbscrews H, which are adaptedto vary the inclination orangle of the bow-shaped cross-bar C with relation to the standards B,and independently thereof. Thus, when it is desired to adjust the how 0,the clamping thumb-screws G are loosened and the adj usting-screws H areturned in the required direction until the desired adj ustment has beenattained, after which the clamping set-screws G are turned to bind onthe arms Ci of the bow to rigidly clamp it in the proper position.

- The upper bow-shaped crossbar O is provided with a series of openings,through which are passed rivets or other suitable devices for securingthe upper edges of the apron D to said bow-shaped cross bar, the lowerand side edges of the apron being left free and unsecured to permit theattendant to use his legs and body freely and without hinderance fromthe apron.

The standards 13 and the bow-shaped crossbars are made of spring metal,preferably flat bars or strips of tempered steel, to allow the frame toaccommodate or move itself to the motions of the operator when he bendsor leans over the fleshing beam of a tannery, and when he raises himselfup .the frame automatically rights itself to its proper position.

The improved apron-support can be readily adapted for use in otherrelations than that herein stated, and various slight changes in theform and proportions of parts and in the details of construction may bemade Without departing from the principle of inyinvention.

The device is very simple, strong and durable in construction, can bemanufactured and sold very cheaply, is readily adjustable and quicklysecured in position, obviates the inconvenience of burdening the workmanwith a heavy and cumbersome apron, and at the same time effectuallyprevents him from getting wet, while it permits him the free use of thehands, body, and li mbs without hinderance, and effects a saving in thenumber of aprons used.

The key or blockf may be employed or omitted, as preferred, and thedevice placed nearer to or farther from the fleshing-beam, thesupporting-frame yielding to the movements of the operator andautomatically righting itself when released from pressure.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an apron-support, the combination of the spring-uprights to yieldto the motions of the operator, and a crossbar secured to the uprightsand adapted to have an apron suspended therefrom, said apron beingsuspended from the cross-bar and disconnected entirely from theuprights, substantially as described.

2. An apron support consisting of the yielding uprights adapted to besecured to a floor, and a vertically-adjustable cross-bar from which anapron is to be suspended, detachably connected to the uprights,substantially as described.

3. An apron-support consisting of the flexible yieldingsupporting-uprights adapted to be secured to a floor, and a cross-barconnecting the uprights and adjustably mounted thereon, said bar beingadapted to be adjusted by means substantially as described, and held atan angle to the uprights, and have an apron suspended therefrom,substantially as de scribed.

4. The combination of the hinged flexible uprights, an adjustablecrossbar connecting the same, and an apron suspended from the cross-bar,substantially as described.

5. The combination of the supports, the flexible standards pivotedthereto, the brackets secured on the standards,and an adjustablecross-bar mounted in the brackets and having the apron suspendedtherefrom, substantially as described.

6. The-combination, of the uprights, the brackets, a cross-bar. havingslotted arms, a clamping-screw, G, passing through each arm and enteringthe uprights, and an adjustingscrew, H, mounted in the lower ends of thearms of the cross-bar, substantially as described.

7. The combination of the main supporting-frame, the apron suspended,therefrom, the supports having the perforated ears or lugs, and thepivot-pinsfor connecting the supports and frame together pivotally,substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereuntoaffixed my signa ture in presence of two witnesses.

ANTHONY V. llIANLEY.

Witnesses: v Y

H. G. PRINDLE, J. E. NIOKERSON.

